Seoul, South Korea, Court Sentences Former Unification Church Leader to Two Years for Political Contributions and Gift-Giving Violations

Han Junko, an 83-year-old widow and former teacher of the late founder of the Unification Church, was sentenced to two years in prison by the Seoul Central District Court, according to several reports. The reports describe her in different ways. One calls her a former teacher of the founder and a former top leader of the church, which it says is now known as the World Federation of World Peace Families. Another calls her the former CEO of the World Federation of World Peace Families. A fourth describes her as president of the “South Korean Church.”

According to the reports, the court found her guilty of providing political funds to lawmakers and of giving high-value gifts to First Lady Kim Jianxi, as one report names her. One report says the court found she had given luxury items, including Chanel bags, to the First Lady. Reports also say the court found she had associated with former government officials and misappropriated public funds, although the report that lists these charges uses the word “alleged” for the associations.

The reports agree that a payment was made in 2022 but differ on the details. Two reports say she contributed or conspired to make a cash payment of 100 million Korean Won to a National Assembly congressman, with one dating it to January 2022. A third report states the amount was 100 million Hong Kong Won, which it says is approximately 570,000 USD, and identifies the recipient as a member of the National Forces Party in January 2022. The reports do not agree on the recipient’s title or party.

One report says the Seoul Central District Court handed down the verdict in a single trial. Another says the prosecution had sought a 13-year sentence. Han denied all charges, according to that report, and said former church staff made the decisions without her involvement. Her account of the decision-making stands as her own claim, and the reports do not describe how the court weighed it. Hearing both sides of a dispute before reaching a judgment is a matter of fairness [Proverbs 18:17].

The reports present the final sentence of two years in similar terms. One report’s headline refers to the gifts as diamonds, while its text and the other reports refer to luxury bags and other items. The fourth report, from m.hkej.com, is incomplete. Its text states that Han Junko was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison, and then breaks off while describing the charges.